2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back...

There is a Japanese proverb that I like; "Fall seven times, get up eight" So, basically, no matter how many times you get knocked down, you get up again. Even if you should fall one thousand times, you just keep getting up and trying again. Although, usually for me, whenever something does go wrong, I have my moment of "WHY ME??!!!" then I'm over it... Lol..

I hear you! YES it happens to other people my life in general! Don't feel lonely I sometimes say who did I piss off please tell me so I can go apologize and then maybe life will quit dropping things on my head lol. Hang in there!

You have aptly described resilience...and clearly have it abundance!

R. J.- You are inspiring!
So thanks for that.
I need it.
;)

My life is much like yours. 2 steps forward and 1 step backward and I work at facing it in a proactive way. Because I expect the backward movement I don't get thrown when it happens. I plan ahead as much as possible while I'm also aware that there will be events that I couldn't foresee. It's just life. I choose to face life with a positive attitude and without blaming others or God for what happens. I look at events to see if I can learn from them. I accept responsibility for my part in having them happen and/or in dealing with them. And I have thought about resources to use in the event of such backward happenings.

I call this attitude one of accepting life as it unrolls, expecting the best while preparing for the unexpected. I see people refusing to consider possible negative events while at the same time living life in an unhappy way because they're frightened by the future. When the 1 step backwards arrives they don't know what to do.

I'm not saying this well. hmmmm

I see life as an adventure and an opportunity to learn and grow. Any event is OK. I get depressed, yes. I feel helpless, yes. But I do something about those feelings. I work at being proactive in my life. It's not easy but so worth the good feelings it creates.

I've had cancer and been cancer free for many years. Life was good before the cancer, during the cancer, and now. My cousin is in treatment for metastasized melanoma. Statistically he has a 7% chance of survival in the treatment he's now in. Life is till good. I do feel sad and at time depressed. That is a part of the 1 step backwards. I've planned for that. I'm continuing to be proactive about my mental health.

My cousin faces the future by taking care of business, both medically and legally. He focuses on what he can do and let's go of what he has no control over. He couldn't predict that he'd get cancer. However, he did live life in a way that getting cancer still allows him to manage the event. He has medical insurance and a savings account as well as friends and family who support him emotionally.

Too often, people do not consider the future. They see no need for a "Oh, Shoot" savings or for health insurance or even for good relationships with family and friends. Then that negative event "ruins" their life and they see no way out.

Everyone faces 2 steps forward and 1 step back. What is different is the way in which they handle life's events.

Well, life is pretty unpredictable, isn't it? The months that really drag me down are the ones where the backward steps come in multiples. Then it feels like life has always been that way, and always will be. But then a month or two comes along when most of the steps are forward, and I catch up on obligations. Don't shoot me yet!

Wishing you the best, R.. Worst possible moments aside…

I think people's attitudes about life come from how they were raised, and what kind of life they are living now.

Some people just can't take stress. They close up, or get overly dramatic. And some people just keep pushing on through. I do find that a lot of the "millenials" have a hard time. I read an article on them. They were raised to believe they could do ANYTHING, so they are very positive. They were also overly scheduled by their parents so they have a hard time managing their own schedules. They were handed a lot of things so they don't understand "working your way up." And they were a part of the generation of "everyone wins!" so they are very, very surprised when not everyone wins--AND not only that, but they don't even get a take-home ribbon or a pat on the back!

So they don't handle stress as well. They weren't subject to handling it as kids, so they can't handle it as adults. Plus, they were more spoon-fed than other generations so their problem solving isn't as good. The Millenials are graduation college, getting married and having kids. The bright side is they are very adept at technology, very positive and very innovative. The downside is they can't handle stress, they need someone to give them directions and don't take losing well.

Some of it just might be a person's personality as well!

I do believe that there are people who live in a world where nothing ever goes wrong. Unlike me. However, when something does happen to those folks, coping skills are non-existent. My life keeps me on my toes

I don't have that type of worries financially, but there's still little stuff that piles up and gets me to thinking the wrong way. Feeling like an elephant is stomping on my chest. Feeling like I'm having a bad day, the universe is against me today, or what else can possibly go wrong, or it must be a Monday(even if it isn't), or could I have PMS?
This week it was a $1 library fine for NOT checking out a book my husband put on hold, trying to call the dentist and having the receptionist think I was the patient she was placing a call out to, a C on my son's report card in language arts, still finding broken glass in the kitchen days after hubby and son spent a whole day without me, and the lady at the food bank accusing me of stealing lettuce from the community garden.
I realized that I was thinking about it the wrong way, and tried not to let that change how I calmly resolved each little situation. I reminded hubby to use his own library card next time, called the dentist office back later when the receptionist was less confused, looked on the bright side of my son's grade(it proves he needs the extra help we keep asking for), cleaned up the broken glass, and reassured the garden lady that I didn't take the lettuce without getting mad and damaging our friendship.

"Into everyone's life a little rain must fall..."

It often seems that when you get in that rut it snowballs and it is one thing after another.

I think you have to have faith to pull yourself out of that rut, to realize that the Earth is still spinning, and that the sun will come up tomorrow and you'll still be a part of it all.

Yep, everybody's life has it.

It's just a part of life.

Some people have more than their normal share of things tha happen to
them so I consider myself lucky.

Everyone should have a back-up plan (like, what if one of us loses our job
kind of thing) and money in their savings account.

I don't think anyone has it perfectly easy or stress-free.

When I was working, I had $ in savings but not now.

I like the way BD put it "Into everyone's life, a little rain must fall....".

It's just the way of the world, Murphy's law, how life works out, etc.

Things might go smoothly for months, then suddenly stuff happens. Once stuff happens, it seems to keep happening, one thing after the other. Then things go back to normal, and sometimes I get a string of good stuff happening. Oh well, life would be pretty boring without all the stuff.

Some people roll with the punches fairly well while others don't.
Some peoples punches are a lot harder to roll with - those dealing with destruction from hurricane Sandy right now have got it tough.
We have some emergency funds for a rainy day.
Came in handy when a heat pump component burn out or a circuit in the breaker box needed replacing or the brakes on my car needed replacing.
Something always needs some upkeep or replacing.

Stuff like that happens to us except fortunately you have a short term savings - life isn't that bad for you as you think. Yours is depleted,some of us don't have enough to get started, so when stuff you talk about happen, I pray harder to learn how to survive

OMG, I HATE that! The second we actually start to get ahead, there goes the tires, the transmission, the a/c, the garbage disposal and the list of things I want to repair or upgrade in my home is infinite...... I am the same as you, the garbage disposal has been out for like 3 wks or something, oh well, when the sink gets crazy I just stick my scrubber down there and clear it out, clorox wipe my sink, sanitize my scrubber in the dishwasher and MOVE ON! We freakin' have the money to fix it and we just forget bc life moves at a frantic pace on a daily basis!! I mean we have three kids 5 and under, just hasn't hit the distress sensor.... The hot water heater went out and I just hosed my kids down by putting my thumb over the water hose and letting them run and they loved it, the van blew up basically while we were on the freeway and we drove it with the windows down, smoke pouring out the back WITH our then 7 month old baby across town and bought a new (used) van that I am so in love with I call it the fourth child:) But I digress.... Life happens, it's just how it is, how others don't know this is a mystery. We have had our moments where the emergency fund is tapped out and we don't know our exact attack plan and yet, here comes God helping us out and if we have to work it out or wait it out, it's OK. I think sometimes people fall apart if they don't have that sense of 'something will just work out' deep inside of them. I was raised by a single mom with a handicapped sister. There was a time that my mom had to cut and dye her hair and we all had to live in a shelter bc my dad was just a nut and we were OK bc we were together. Life is what you make it :) I think all the time when my kids are making me nuts, I am tired beyond belief, stuff in my house or car is breaking that no-one is sick, in the hospital or dead, so it's always a good day :) When that other stuff happens life is harder but as long as I have breath I am going to push through it all and get to the other side! So yeah, in short ALL that stuff does happen to me!!

Yes, stuff happens. It generally doesn't throw us for a loop because we prepare for it. We have separate funds for stuff that crops up. In the last few years we've replaced the furnace and the water heater, had various car repairs and replaced tires, put 2 kids in braces, bought 5 pairs of glasses, and had various urgent care visits (with a high deductible plan). All, except the glasses, we're unplanned. (we thought we had a few more years until they needed braces).
You are not alone in having unexpected expenses and experiences. Nor are you alone in preparing for it so you stay on your feet.

I remember when things kept going wrong. I made decisions to save money which cost me more, I took a job making more money but had to pay gas, and such. I became depressed and angry at times. I am so glad you have a better attitude!

Everyone has days when Murphy(Murphy's Law) camps in your house. It's what you do when the moments hit that defines you. The fact that you have a Rainy Day fund speaks volumes. You know life has it's quirks and plan for it.

I have a friend that NEVER plans for ANYTHING, and when Murphy visits, it nearly crushes her, yet she refuses to save for the next time. It's what you do in these moments that define you. I'd say you are just doing fine.

When I can afford to put away for a rainy day, I do. Even if Murphy leaves me alone for an entire three months, I pretend that money in the jar doesn't exist. Because you never know.

Good job on the positive thinking, hugs to you and hope your plumbing gets sorted out right quick.

yup. ussually i have an off year or two where its one huge thing after another constantly and i feel like i'm constantly being kicked and then i'll have a year with normal ups and downs and normal crappy things following